Method of making sealing devices



J. w. Hoses 2,406,686

z Smets-sheet 1 Aug. 27, 1946.A

METHOD 0F MAKING SEALING DEVICES Original Filed Sept. 5, 1942.

Aug. 21, 1946.

J. W. HOBBS METHOD oF MAKING SEALING DEVICES original Filed sept. 5, 1942 v2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 27,= 1946 `METHOD oF MAKING SEALING DEvIoEse.

John W. Hobbs, Springiield, Ill., assignor to John I W. Hobbs Corporation, Springfield, Ill., a corporation oflllinois Original application September 5, 1942, Serial No. 457,397, now Patent No. 2,372,781, dated April 3, 1945. Divided and this application June 24, 1943, Serial No. 492.041

1 Claim. (o1. ,2Q-14s) I l This invention relates to improvements in a method of-making a sealing device, and more particularly'to a method of making a sealing device that is in the nature of a packing ring for disposition about a shaft to prevent the escape of lubricant from bearings associated with` the shaft, although the device may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Y

This application is a division of my copending application entitled Sealing device, filed September 5, 1942,. Serial No. 457,397,k now Patent No. 2,372,781. A ,a

It is animportant object of this invention to provide a method of makingV a sealing device equipped with replaceable sealing means, the practice of the method resulting in the provision of such a Vsealing device which need not be taken apart in order to equip it with a new sealing Vmeans in lieu of a worn sealing means.

Anothery object of the invention resides in the provision of a method of making a sealing device of a character such as to be axially compressible, the method resulting in such a device which is substantially permanently ,assembled in position for use regardless of its axial compressibility.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an extremely simple and economical method of making a sealing device havinginterlocking parts eliminating any unintentional separation of the parts of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provi- Ision of a facile and economical method of making a sealing device to retain lubricant or some other liquid or semi-liquid substance` in its desired lo-A cation against leakage. n l 1 While some of the more salient features, charf acteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will -be. come apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the Aaccompanying drawings, inwhich; I j I Figurel is a fragmentary partrsectionaLpart elevational View of a Wheel mounting for a Caterpillar tread, the mounting including sealing devices embodyingprinciples of the instant in` vention; K Y Y y v Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view. of one of the sealingdevices embodied in the structure of Figure 1; 2 Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical, sectional View of the sealing deviceof Figure 21 in position on a shaft, theshaft being shown in elevation, and parts of the sealing device being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view of the sealing device seen in Figures 2 and 3, With the covering boot shown in section, the device being seen in its expanded condition, removed from a shaft; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the sealing device taken substantially as indicated by the line V V of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and indicating in dotted lines a step in myV novel method of making the sealing device.

As shown on the drawings:

For purposes of clarity, I will first proceed with a description of the use and construction of the sealing device itself.

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown in association with an idler wheel mounting for a Caterpillar tread, such as may be incorporated in a tractor, tank, or the like, in Figure 1 of the drawings. This idler wheel mounting or assembly includes a stationary shaft I carried in a' pair of end supporting bearings 2 and 3, the shaftbeing provided with integral flanged portions land 5 spaced apart and disposed at an intermediate region of the shaft. Against each of the flanged portions 4 and 5 is a roller bearing assembly 6 which carries an idler Wheel or pulley 'I equipped with suitable Caterpillar tread engaging lugs 8. The idler wheel is preferably put on in two sections which are joined together after mounting by a suitable seal 9. A suitable bearing holding collar I Il is provided on the outside of each bearing 6, and has an upstanding ange engaged by lone or more holding lugs I I struck inwardly from the pulley 1.

Since the pulley 'I rotates under heavy load on the bearings 6 6, suitable lubricant must at all times be supplied to the bearings. To this end, the shaft is provided with an interior step-down bore I2 closed at the outer end by a suitable plug I3. Lubricant may be provided under pressure to the bore I2, and passed to each of the bearings through radial channels I4 and I5 in the shaft. Each of the channels I4 and I5 communicates with the arcuate wall I6 of the adjacent collar IIJ so that the lubricant under pressure may pass along this curved wall I6 and enter the roller bearing assemblies 6 6. It is naturally desirable to prevent loss of lubricant between the shaft I and the supporting bearings Zand 3. To this end, a ysealing device'embodying improvements of the instant invention is mounted in the structure outside of each ofthe bearing assemblies Such sealing device Vis generally indicated by reference numeral I'I, and the sealing device has a plurality of studs extending therefrom on each side. In the illustrated instance, there are three such studs I 8 on one side, and a similar number of studs I9 Von the opposite side. The studs I9 fit in suitable sockets in a washer 2|] abutting an inwardly extending flange on the adjacent eollar member Ill, and the studs I8 seat in suitable recesses in the adjacent supporting bearings 2 or 3 as the case may be. When so mounted in position, the sealing device is ,preferably under axial compression, .that is, the device is actually squeezed axially between the washer and the adjacent supporting bearings .2 or V3.

Such squeezing action, as v,will more fully later appear herein, augments the sealing function of the device, andl the device is internally constructed to provide a reactive outward pressure against the axial compression.

With reference now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it will 'be seen `that the sealing ydevice is in the nature .of a retainer ring, landis enclosed within 1a boot 'or `casing `2I, preferably lof resilient material, which functions as 'the sealing medium proper. ThisI boot may be made of any suitable material, such, `for example, las synthetic rubber, ia material known las neoprene being a lsatisfactory substance.

As seenbest in Figures 3 `andl, the `boot fis lof channel shape and the .sides fo'f the channel `are provided with suitable fapertures through kwhich the studs I8 and i9 extend. As seen best in Figure 3, when the sealing device is vmounted in position on the-shaft 'I, the resilient boot 2l has what may be termed edgewise 'engagement 4with the shaft 'as indicated at v22 on each side of the sealing device. rSuch edgewise engagement, vespecially when'the sealing device 'is under an axial compression, provides an -exce'edinglypositive seal against vthe leakage of lubricant along the outer surface ofthe shaft. It will V'also 'be kespecially noted Ythat such 'edgewise engagement provides only a 'minimum lsur-face :Contact of lthe sealing medium with the lshaft so'that there will be extremely little wear iupon 'the 'sealing Amedium in the event the lshaft il. rotates relatively to the sealing device.

Interiorly thereof, .the sealing device comprises apa'ir of complemental 'half-portions, that is, a left half-portion and-a right 'half-portion of similar construction. 'These `portions are generally .indicated by numeral '23 forthe'lefthalf-portion and 24 io'rthe rightlhaIf-portion.

The right half-portion "24 includes -a radial flange 2.5 extending outwardly from an integral body portion `2li which vis 'of substantially cyl-indrical construction for telescopic engagement with fthe shaft l. YThe body portion 26 is 'provided 4with a plurality of vrelatively large apertures 21 spaced therearound. In fthe illustrated instance there will be A'threesuh apertures 1in the body portion. 'One side wall 'of each aperture is free foflobstruction and parallels the axis of the device. VA `lug 28 extends circumferentially on the other side wall ofthe aperture, 'as seen best in Figure 4,'thus 'de'n'ing 'an openneck portion leading finto the opening -or aperture 'Z1 which neck fisfd'enitely lnarrower 'than the 'main part of the opening.

The left-portion or member 23 is of 'complemental "and similar construction, "including a radialV flange 29, a cylindricalbody portion A3i), a seriesof relatively'large aperturesl in thebody portionand a lug 32 extending circumferenti'ally from'one of "the side `walls `of `each of the aperings .3l of the left member.

Ypression spring 35.

4 tures to provide a narrower neck portion leading axially into the aperture.

With reference to Figure 4, it will be seen that the lugs 2B on the right half-portion 24, and the lugs 32 on the left half-portion 23 overlap each other and are normally in edge to edge contact when the sealing device is not mounted in operative position. The solid body portions 3u of the left member extend into the openings 21 in the right member, and likewise the solid body portions 26 of the right member extend into the open- The lugs 28 and 32, `while permitting axial movement of the side members toward each other to the depth of the openings .21 and 3|, do not permit an axial sepa- .ra'tion of the members beyond the position seen in Figure 4, due to the edgewise abutment of the lugs with each other.

Each of the studs I8 on the radial flange 25 is provided with a reduced shank 33A extending through .to the inside of the flange. fLikewise, each ofthe studs I9 on the radial "flange y29 `on vthe left member-is provided with a reduced 'shank '3'4 extending inwardly from that flange. With reference again to Figures 3 and .4, it will'be seen that 'the studs It and I9 are directly opposite each other so that Voppositely disposed Shanks 33 and 3d provide a suitable .mounting means for a com- In the illustrated instance, there are three such compression springs disposed equidistantly around the sealing device. The springs 35 always tendY to force the `two half-portions of the device outwardly and thus separate them to the limit established bythe edge to 'edge engagement of the lugs 28 and 32 indicated `at; 36 .in Figure 4. It should be mentioned that in Figure 4 one ofthe springs 35 has been omitted from 'the disclosure for the purpose of clarity.

As stated above, this invention also contemplates a novel method of making the sealing device. "To this end, `each half portion -23 and 25'; of the device `may Vbe formed in a punch press or other suitable mechanism. However, on one of these half-portions, and `it maybe either one, the circumferentially extending lugs forming the interlocking engagement rare left 'in outwardly bent position. vIn the illustrated instance, I have selected the "half '23 for this purpose, yand with reference to Figure `5 it will be seen that initially the lugs 32 are "left in outwardly 'inclined position as indicated by the dotted lines in'this figure. This 'half-portion 2-3 with the outwardly inclined lugs 32'i's iirst put on a form sha-ft or'arbor. The springs 35 'are then held in position as the other half-portion 24 is pushed on the same arbor and the respective solid 'body portions yof both lhalves enter 'into the corresponding openings 21 and 3| in the opposite half-portion. The lugs 32 are preiera'blyoutwardly Vinclined just suiciently for the lugs'28 on the'half-portion 24 to pass Vby them. These lugs 23 are in true circumferential relationship'with the remainder of the bodyportion 26. f

'When thepartsfare-sotmountedwith the springs 35 fin place, the parts are -pressed `axiallytoward each other sufficiently for the lugs 8 to pass Vthe outwardly I'inclined lugs '32. When so positioned, the lugs 32 'are then bent inwardly to the circumferential extending position in interlocking engagement with the lugs 28 on the opposite half-portion. The form shaft or arborvforms a backing vfor this bending operation which maybe done very simply'and expeditiously,` 'and vthe device is then securely held together. After this forming operation, the resilient boot 2l is placed in position, over the structure, and locked in place over` the protruding studs I8 and I9.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel and easily practiced method of making a sealing device. It will be noted that the method isquite economical to practice, and results in the provision of asealing device instantly -ready for use. Further, it Will be noted that a sealing device manufactured in accordance with the instant method is capable of having the sealing medium per se replaced when desired Without the necessity of removing or separating the parts of the device, and the device effectively maintains its assembled condition against unintentional separation even though it is readily axially compressible when in use.

It will, of course, be understood that various steps of the method may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the vpatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

The method of making a sealing device, including the steps of forming one of a pair of complemental substantial vcylindricalv members with circumferentially extending spaced lugs thereon, forming the second of said pair of members With the corresponding lugs projecting at an angle to the circumference, assembling said members in confronting relationship on an arbor with spring means therebetween, compressing said springl means by relative axial movement between said ymembers until the circumferential ferential lugs to hold said members united against the action of said spring means.

JOHN W. HOBBS. 

